Apparatus for releasing horses prom carriages



T; B PYRON.

Dtaching Horses.

Patented Oct 22 1850.

extra sTTEs PATENT OFFICE.

T. B. PYRON, OF SALINA, TENNESSEE.

APPARATUS FOR RELEASING HORSES FROM CARRIAGES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TAPLEY B. PYRoN, of Salina, in the county of Jacksonand State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement onthe Swingletree of Carriages for Dise-ngaging the Horses Therefrom whenin the Act of Running Off and I do hereby declare the following to be afull and clear description thereof, reference being had to the annexeddrawings of the same, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a plan of the swingle-tree, and a portion of theWhittle-tree, showing the position of the several parts of the apparatuswhen the horse or horses are properly attached to the carriage. Fig. 2is a vertical cross section of ditto. Fig. 3 is a plan of the forwardend of the tongueshowing the metallic pole box, to which the pole strapsare attached, and the ferrule on the end of l the tongue.

The same letters on the figures refer to the same parts.

A, is the swingle-tree, made in the usual manner, and connected to theWhittle-tree B, by the usual tug strap C, passing through a staple D,projecting from the swingle-tree.

E, E, are the staples of the swingle-tree, to which the trace straps areordinarily attached, and which I propose to use for the attachment ofcertain tapered trace bars, hereafter described.

My improvement relates to the manner of combining two tapered tracebars, with a flexible lever or disengaging strap, attached to the upperend of a curved confining box plate, projecting outward from theswingletree into which the flexible lever, and ends of the trace barsfitand are held,-by which the trace bars are properly secured with thetraces, and on the occurrence of an accident or running off of the horseor horses, the driver can at an instants warning, disengage the tracebars from the curved box plate, and liberate the traces, by simplydrawing a cord attached to the end of the flexible lever, which willcause it (the flexible lever) to approximate to a straight line, andwith it elevate the ends of the trace bars; there being a projection orguard, 011 said flexible lever, directly over the ends of the tracebars, for preventing the same from flying out or being disengaged fromthe box fit, with the flexible lever, into the cavity of the box plate,J, between the swingle-tree, and its curved end.

'llhe ends of the traces H are provided] with loops, which fit, and passover the trace bars to their larger ends, G, there being recesses I madein the swingle-tree, to receive the ends of the traces, when the tracebars are closed, and thus hold them in their proper places untildisengaged.

J, is the curved box plate, projecting frontward from the underside ofthe center of the swingletree, leaving sufficient space between itscurved end and the swingle-tree to receive the flexible lever, and endsof the trace bars F, F. To the curved end of this box plate J isattached the end of the flexible lever I which is made to fit into thecavity of the box plate J, as seen in Fig. 2, and extend rearward; towhose opposite end is attached the hand cord K, leading to the driver orwithin the vehicle, for lifting said flexible lever I from the cavity ofthe box plate, when it is desired to disengage the trace bars; bycausing it to approximate to a straight line; its attachment to thecurved box plate J serving as its fulcrum. The curve of the box plate issuch as to hold or confine securely in connection with the guard orholder L, of the flexible lever I the ends of the trace bars F, and thusprevent the possibility of their disengagement from the box plate indescending plains or on rough roads.

Fig. 3 represents a portion of the tongue of the carriage, its frontport-ion being provided with a metallic ferrule M, on which is formed ashoulder N, against which rests a metallic box 0, to which are attachedthe pole straps, for preventing the carriage running on the horse orhorses in descending inclined plains, or stopping the same when desired,and also for allowing the metallic box 0 to slip off of the tongue whenthe horses are disengaged from the carriage.

The manner of operating to disengage with this apparatus is as followsWhen the horse or horses, in running off with the carriage to which theyare attached, become unmanageable the driver pulls the cord K at tachedto the flexible lever I which causes it to approximate to a straightline and thus relieves itself from the cavity of the curved box plate J,and simultaneously lifts and liberates the ends of the trace holdingbars F which instantly move outward, and the trace straps H will slip orpass therefrom, and the trace bars be made to assume a pendant verticalposition, the driver at this moment throwing the reins toward thehorses, who leave the carriage without inury.

J Theanetallic box 0, to which the pole straps are attached will ofcourse slip over, and pass from the tongue, and remain upon the harness.

Should the driver not be able to attend to the saftey cord K whileendeavoring to guide the horses, it may be pulled by any one seated inthe carriage, being so arranged as to be within convenient reach of thepassengers as well as driver.

This apparatus may be applied to single horse carriages, as well as totwo horse vehicles.

Having thus described my improvement for disengaging the horses fromvehicles,

I Wish it to be understood that I do not claim the employment of any ofthe parts constituting this disengaging apparatus, separatelyconsidered; but

What I do claim as my invention and improvement, is-

Combining two tapered trace bars F, F, with the flexible lever ordisengaging strap I attached to the upper end of the curved confiningbox plate J, projecting outward from the swingle-tree A, in which theflexible lever I and ends of the tapered trace bars F, F, fit, and areproperly secured, with the traces; by the curve of the box plate J, anda guard or holder L, attached to the flexible lever I and fitting intothe cavity of the box plate J, directly over the ends of the trace barsF, the disengagement being effected by drawing a cord K, attached to theflexible lever I which will cause it to approximate to a straight line,and with it elevate the ends of the trace bars F, and liberate the samefrom the curved box plate J, as fully set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before twosubscribing witnesses.

TAPLEY B. PYRON.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. SMITH, JOHN DAVIS.

